James Egan, Air Force Vet, Dies at 82

The following is from Morrill Funeral Home:

James L. Egan, 82, of Sturbridge, formerly of Cumberland, RI, a 20 year Air Force Veteran, passed away on Friday, March 7th, in the UMass Memorial Medical Center, University Campus, Worcester, after an illness.

He was predeceased by his first wife, Berit (Thorshaug) Egan, in 1999. He leaves his wife of 12 years Y. Irene (Farland) Lucier Egan; his stepchildren, Joan Serra and her husband John of Dracut, Michelle Larssen and her husband Peter of Berlin, Marc Lucier and his wife Marian Marino of Cos Cob, CT and Brian Lucier of Shrewsbury; two brothers, Robert J. Egan and his wife Catherine of Woonsocket, RI and Paul R. Egan and his wife Judith of Alamo, TX; four sisters, Mary Brand and her husband Donald of Vernon, CT, Lorraine Proulx and her husband Maurice of Woonsocket, RI, Margaret Rabeck of Woonsocket, RI and Patricia Menard and her husband Charles of Glendale, RI; six grandchildren, Samantha Larssen, Peter Larssen, William Lucier, Abigail Lucier, Paige Lucier and Theodore Lucier; and 18 nieces and nephews.

He was born in Woonsocket, RI, the son of James P. and Bernadette (Taschereau) Egan.

Jim started his career in the Air Force at Sampson AFB, NY and trained in technical school at FE Warren AFB, WY. He later served at Edwards AFB, CA; in the Grand Bahamas Island working in the beginnings of the Air Force missile tracking program; and Hollomon AFB, NM. Jim was then assigned to the Pentagon working in the Air Force Command Post (the War Room) for 4 years, after which he was assigned to Norway working for NATO and met his first wife Berit there. He was later assigned to Hanscom Field, MA; Paris, France and later Belgium working for NATO at both places; and finally at Hill AFB, UT, from where he retired after 20 years of service in 1972. He received a Letter of Commendation for his outstanding work at Hanscom Field; the Utah Air Force Association Award for his outstanding work at Hill AFB; and the Air Force Commendation Medal upon retiring from the Air Force as a Tech Sgt.

After retiring Jim worked for Keydata in Foxboro, starting as a computer operator and quickly rose to Operations Manager, working for Keydata for 18 years before retiring.

Jim was an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan. He enjoyed snow skiing and started ski clubs in Norway and Hanscom AFB when he was stationed there. He also enjoyed playing softball, tennis, bowling, fishing and traveling. He was a past member and coach of the Field of Dreams Senior Softball League and was a past member of the Memory Lanes Bowling League.

His funeral will be held on Tuesday, March 11th, from the Daniel T. Morrill Funeral Home, 130 Hamilton St., Southbridge, with a Mass at 10:00am in St. Anne's Church, 16 Church St., Fiskdale. Burial in Resurrection Cemetery, Cumberland, RI, will be held at the convenience of the family. Calling hours in the funeral home will be held on Monday, March 10th, from 4:00 to 7:00pm.